Apparatus for use in the purification of water.



F. M. LEAVITT.

APPARATUS FOR. USE IN THE PURIFIGATION OF WATER.

I APPLIGATION FILED JULY 24,1913.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IL Y I INIVENTOR AM a. 4.

P. M. LEAVITT.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER.

APPLICATION IILED JULY 24, 1913.

1,087,958. Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' INVENTOR ITNESSESJ 7 W By Attorneys, W dhcpom @wdc kw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. LEAVITT, 0F SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LEAVITT-J ACKSON EYN'GILTEIilRINGI- COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER.

Serial No. 780,954.

T '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK. M. LnAvrrT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Smithtown, in the county of Suflolk and State of New "York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Purification of YVater, of which the following is a specification.

In. the purification of water, as in an aqueductfor example, and of other liquids such as sewage, it is common to use chlorin or other gaseous or fluid agent, which is introduced into the water or other liquid in some predetermined proportion. Inasmuch as the flow in the water supply or other liquid current is subject to frequent fluctuation, it is necessary to vary. the flow of the purifying agent in like manner, in order to maintain its introduction in the prescribed proportion.

My present invention provides an apparatus. for introducing a gaseous or other purifying agent into a stream of water or other liquid at a rate varying proportionately to the variations in the flow of such liquid, and at a rate independent of variations in pressure or temperature of the agent, so that for any given quantitypf water flowing a given weight of the chemical agent shall be introduced.

In my application Serial No. 724,512 filed October 8, 1912. I have described and' claimed a method of controlling the flow whereby to accomplish the result just stated,

and have shownan apparatus adapted to carry out such method, and to illustrate the principle involved in my invention. The present application illustrates an improved and simplified apparatus adapted to perform 'the required process. .40

In the accompanying drawings,-Figur e 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, belng partly in vertical section; Fig. 2 is atransverse section thereof; Fig. 3 is a ection on Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the connection of the fluid controlling apparatus with the water main or aqueduct;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a pump showing a modified arrangement.

For the purification of water supplied to cities, in order to destroy harmful bacteria in the water, the purifying agent now most main.

sure in liquid form; when the outlet valve from a bottle is opened the liquid is partly relleved ofpressure and the gaseous chlorin passes out through a tube into the water valve is introduced in this tube, and it is for the operation of this valve that the present apparatus is designed.

Referring first to Fig. 4 of the drawings, A designates an aqueduct or water main through which passes the water to be purified; or it may be a branch or loop from the -1nain aqueduct.

In connection with this main some sort of devlce is employed which moves 1n proportion to the flow of water through the main. This device I will call a flow indicator. Many such devices are known, the one example shown comprising an Archimedean screw B turned by the flow of water in the main, rotating a shaft C, which through worm or other gearing a b communicates reduced rotation to a shaft D and thence in any suitable way to the controller shown in Fig. 1, as for example by a flexible shaft D which slowly rotates a screw E carried by a scale beam F, from one arm, of which is supported the bottle G containing the chlorin or. other gas. I From the outlet valve of this bottle the gas flows by a pipe or tube 0 to a valveH, and thence by atube (Z to the main or aqueduct A, where the gas is introduced into the flow of water. s It. being required to control the flow of gas with reference to its weight so that under given conditions of flow of water to be purified a given weight. of gas may escape during each unit of time and be directed'into the water, it is necessary to provide some means for weighing the gas contained in the bottle G. In the construction shown in my previous application this bottle was supported upon a float in one instance, or suspended from springs in anotherexample, so that in either case the support for the bottle would rise as the weight within it diminished. In the. preferred construction here shown the bottle is hung upon a scale For controlling its rate of flow a Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

beam F whereby it is weighed by means of a counterweight J which slides along this scale beam.

At the beginning of the operation when the bottle G is full'of gas and has its maximum weight, the counterweight J is at the extreme end of the beam. The proportions should be such that the counterweight may slightly overpoise the bottle. The rotation of the shaft by its engagement with the nut J carried by the counterweight, slowly displaces the latter toward the pivot of the beam.

The rate of movement of the counterweight is important. Itsextreme movement from the outer to near the inner end of the scale beam corresponds to the entire weight of gas contained in the bottle G; hence its movement proportionate to a given flow of water should be at such rate that the quantity of water requiring the given weight of chlorin will flow through the aqueduct while the counterweight is executing its extreme travel. For example, if the normal flow is one million gallons per hour and the prescribed dosage is one pound of chlorin to each million gallons of water, and if the bottle for example contains 60 pounds of chlorin, the gearing ratio should be such between the flow indicator B and the shaft E that the counterweight will be caused to execute its total travel in 60 hours. In this example a uniform flow of water is assumed; but in actual practice the flow of water will vary greatly, and as the indicator B will move at a proportionate rate, the progress of the counterweight J will be more or less rapid in exact proportion to the rate of flow of water.

The outflow of gas to the aqueduct is governed by the valve H, and this valve is operated in such manner as to maintain such an outflow of gas as to-cause the supply of gas to. lose weight in proportion to the rate of travel of the counterweight, that is to say, in proportion to the variations in vflow of water through the main. If the diminution in weight of the bottle due to the outflow of gas is precisely the same as the diminution of effective weight of the counterweight due to its travel, the valve is at the ideal opening-and remains unaflf'ected. If, however, the counterweight preponderates owing to the outflow of gas having been too great, the valve is partially closed by the mechanism to be described. If on the contrary the weight of the bottle preponderates because the outflow of gas has been too slow, the valve is automatically opened wider until a sufficient outflow occurs to establish an equilibrium between the bottle and counterweight. How these results are attained will be apparent from a description of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

A double ratchet wheelsK is adapted to be turned in either direction by pawls L L carried on a reciprocating slide M, which is reciprocated from any suitable source of power, as for example by being connected b a link 6 vto an eccentric f on a shaft 9 whic is turned by a gear h which is driven by a pinion i on the shaft of an electromotor P or other source of motion. The wheel K when not being advanced by either pawl L or L, is held stationary by a stoparm Q pressed into engagement with it by a spring j, and pulled out of engagement by rods in the latter connected with the same eccentric f but at a difi'erent angle, so that theeccentric acts topull the stop Q- out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet K before it advances the slide sufliciently to bring either pawl L or L into action against a tooth'of said ratchet. The pawls L L are normally in the position shown, so that neither pawl can act upon the ratchet wheel, and. they are connected by a link m. A r od R is hung from the scale beam F so as to rise and 'fall with the beam, being guided at its lower end between stationary guides n n. It carries a projection R which in the poised position ofthe beam stands at a point between the approaching tails of the two pawls L L. So long as the scale beam remains poised the slide M may reciprocate the pawls without either pawl striking the projection R. If, however, the scale 'bcam rises or falls it lifts or lowers the projection R, so that at the next backward movement of the slide M the tail of one pawl strikes the projection, thereby tiltin this pawl outwardly or away from the rate et' wheel, and through the link m bringing the other pawl inwardly, so that at the ensuing forward stroke of the slide the nose of the latter pawl engages a notch of the wheel and turns the latter one tooth. This operation will be repeated so long as the scale beam is out of poise; but upon its returning to poise the projection R is restored to the position shown and the pawls are brought back to their inactive position. After each movement of the ratchet the stop Q reengages with it and holds it againstfalse movements. The ratchet K carries a pinion S which 'gears' when a toothed sector T turning on a pivot p and carrying aneccentric U which operates a rod V,'wh1ch in turn operates the valve H, so that as it is pushed down by the eccentric it opens the valve, and "ice versa.

For operating the screw shaft E it carries a gear q meshing with a gear q on a shaft 1' carry-mg a worm wheel 1' which meshes with a worm s ona shaft 21 which derives motion from the flow indicator, and may be the same shaft as D or D in Fig. 1. The centers and pitch lines of the gears q q coincide with the pivotal axis m (Fig. 2) of the scale beam, as shown, so that therockingof the beam may,

'not impairthe transmission of motion, and

' .so that the thrust imparted to the screw E through the gearing may not have a disturbing efi'ect on the scale beam. 1

The preferred construction of valve is ShOWl in detail in Fig. 3... A stationary valve casing;10 has an inlet opening co-mmunicating with the tube 0 and terminating in a seat for the valve 11, which is a cone or tappet valve, and works in achamber 12 from which there is a free outflow through the tube (1. A valve stem 13 extends out through a stufiing box which is best constructed as a tubular block lat of rubber incl'osing the stem and compressed between the valve head and the lower head 15 of the shell. The stem 13 is connected by a yoke 16 to a frame which terminates in :1 cross head 17 at the top, which is pressed upwardly by a spring 18 and engages with the rod V which presses downwardly upon it against the stress of the spring to open the valve.

When the rod V rises, the spring pressing up on the head 17 forces the valve 11 to its seat. When the eccentric forces down the rod V it pushes the valve down against the spring. The movements of the valve are very slight, so that the eccentric U requires only a short radius.

' In commencing the operation, the counterpoise J is moved to its outermost position on the scale beam, and a full bottle G of gas is hung upon the beam and connected to the tube a. Thereupon thesrotation of the screw E proportional to the movement of the flow indicator, causes the counterweight to travel toward the pivot of'thc beam. If at any instant the counterpoise over-balances the bottle, the scale descends and the ratchet mechanism described turns the parts K, T,

U in such directionas to raise the rod V and move the valve toward its seat. If the nottle outweighs the counterpoise the beam rises and the contrary operation ensues, thereby opening! the valve wider. Hence Whenever theoutflow of the gas from the bottle is at a rate insufficient to cause the bottle to lose weight at the same rate that the efiective weight of the counterpoise diminishes, the valve is automatically opened Wider; and whenever the outflow becomes so rapid that the bottle loses weight faster than the loss of effective weight due to the movement of the counterweight, thevalve is partially closed. Thus the valve mechanism tends to move the valve to, its position of ideal opening at which it passes through it such amount of gas that the loss of weight of the bottle precisely keeps pace with the loss of efiective weight of the counterweight. Hence such a flow of gas is insured as will introduce into the stream of Water per 'unit of time a given weight of gas proportionate to a given volumetric flow of water.

The operation will occur as described if the scale beam be 30 mounted as to move with extreme sensitivenessa With a less sen sitive scale beam an over-compensation or pumping action is liable to occur. Thus if the feed of gas is too slow the beam will I rise, thus starting the valve to open wider; but as the gas feeds slowly it will re uire' an appreciable time for the loss of weig t of gas to again bring the beam to mid-position, and during thistime the valve will be continuously opening Wider so that the flow will become excessive. The beam will then fall and the process be reversed,- the valve then being closed too much, thereby diminishing the flow unduly. It is found in practice that at a very low rate of feed the valve will over-run from the fully closed to the fully open position, and vice versa'. To overcome this defective action, I provide a compensator which will now be described.

A spring W of suitable strength is connected .to the long arm of the beam, and at the opposite end is connected to the valve mechanism, preferably by being attached to one arm of a lever a, the other and longer arm of which is connected by alink v to'the o sector T. The tension of the spring W pulling down -on the beam becomes part of the force which counterweights the bottle and gas. Then the beam is poised the weight of the bottle and gas is balanced by the counterweight plus the mean tension of the spring. If the beam rises, thus starting the valve to open wider, the movement imparted from "sector T through lever u increases the tension of the spring, and thus' og pulls the beam back toward its imid position Without Waiting for this to be done by the loss of Weight of gas from the bottle. 'But as the valve has already been opened wider the flow of gas is faster; if, however, not fast enough to keep up with the rate of travel of the counterweight, the same process is repeated until the flow of gas comes into correct ratio to the travel of the counterweight. This compensating means is found in practice to entirely overcome the diflicult-y above described, and the device is so sensitive that the rate of travel of the counterweight may be Widely varied according to extreme conditions of flow' of the w'ater, and yet the mechanism will maintain the rate of flow of the gas so nearly in unison therewith that the beam never tilts far enough to reach either of its stops, but remains poised at about its mid-position.

Instead of controlling, the rate of travel of the counterweight by means of a flow indicator, the travel of the counterweight may be otherwise governed to cause it to keep pace with the-varying flow of water.

As one example, I show' in Fig. 5 a steam pump by which the flow throughthe aqueduct or main is caused, and a connection with this pump wherebyit serves to drive the shaft which turns the propelling screw 139 E. In Fig. '5 a tappet 20.011 the piston rod 21 strikes at each stroke a'lever 22- carrying a pawl 28 which turns a ratchet-wheel 24, the latter being held from turning backward by a stop pawl 25. The shaft 26 of this ratchet wheel may take the place of the shaft C in Fig.4, or of any of the moving parts intenvening between that shaft and the screw E. Thus the screw E propelling the counterweight moves at a rate proportioned to the varying speed of the pump, and hence.

the counterweight travels at a rate proportioned to the flow of water in the main A.

The apparatus may be varied in many respects without departing from the essential features of the invention. It will be understood that the use of a screw B as a means responding to the flow of water, as shown in Fig. 1, or the utilization of the pump as shown in Fig. are merely examples of means by which the counterweight may be caused to travel at a rate proportionate to the flow of the water.

The described mechanism is applicable wherever a chemical agent in gaseous or liquid form is to be caused to flow into a current of water or other liquid so as to introduce a given weight of the agent, irrespective ot'its'pressure or temperature, into a given volume of the water or other liquid to be treated or purified.

The. described mechanism may serve other uses than for controlling the flow of a purifying agent. I

I claim as my invention I l. A means for controlling the flow of a fluid from a supply thereof irrespective of its volume or pressure, comprising means responsive tothe'weigh t of. such fluid supply and controlling means actuated by such means, to control the flow of the fluid, substantially as described.

2. A means for controlling the flow of 'a fluid irrespective of its volume or pressure, and relatively to a stream of liquid, comprising means responsive both to the weight of said fluid and to the rate of flow of said liquid, and means actuated thereby adapted to control the flow of thefluid, whereby to pass a given weight of such fluid to a given amount of flow of such liquid substantially as described.

3. A means for controlling the flow of a fluid relatively to a stream. of liquid, comprising means responsive to the rate of flow of said, liquid, means responsive to the weight of a supply 0 said fluid, a valve controlling the flow of said fluid, and means for operating said valve governed by both said first named means substantially as described.

t. A means for controlling the flow of a fluid relatively to a stream of liquid, comprising weighing means responsive to the weight of the supply of said fluid, propelling means movable relatively to the rate of flow of said liquid, a valve controlling the flow of said fluid, and operating means for said valve governed by both said weighing means and said propelling means.

5. A means for controlling the flow of a fluid relatively to a stream ofliquid, comprising weighing means including a counterpoising element responsive tothe weight of the supply of said fluid, a valve'controlling the flow of said fluid governed by said weighing means, and means responsive to the rate of flow of said liquid for progressively diminishing the eliect of the counterpoising element of said weighing means.

6. A means for controlling the flow of a fluid relatively. to a stream of liquid, comprising weighing means including a counterpoising element responsive to the weight of the supply of said fluid. means responsive to the rate of flow of said liquid acting upon counterpoising element to progressively diminish its counterpoising ettect, a valve controlling the flow of said fluid, and means for opening or closing said valve governed by said weighing means.

7. A fluid controlling device comprising a weighing means including a counterpoising element responsive to the weight of the supply of said fluid, means for progressively diminishing the effect of such counterpoising element, a valve controlling the How of said fluid, means movable in either direction to open or close said valve, and governing means therefor actuated by said weighing means.

8. Mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid from a receptacle thereof, comprising a scale for weighing said receptacle having a counter-poise, means for progressively shifting the counterpoise of said scale, a valve,

operating means for opening or closing said valve, mechanical means for displacin Said 'operatlng means in either direction, and

means in connection with the scale for conerating means, and controlling means whereby said operating means is governed from the scale.

10. The combination. with a Scale, of a valve, and operating means for the latter controlled'from said scale, comprising a ratchet wheel connected to the valve, pawls for turning said wheel in either direction, powerdriven means for reciprocating said trolling said mechanical means, whereby" pawls, and a controlling part responding to the movements of the scale for bringing said pawls to active or inactive positions. 7 11. The combination with-a scale; of a valve, and operating means for the latter controlled from said scale. comprising a ratchet wheel connected to the valve, pawls for turning said wheel in. either direction. power driven means for reci 'iromting said pawls, a stop for holding said wheel during the period of inaction of the pawls operated from said power driven ins, and a controlling part respondin; to the movements of the scale for bllI'IQllltf aid pawls to active or inactive positions.

1. The combination of a scale eomprising a beam, a counterpoise movable along, Said beam a screw shaft on Said beam for so moving said counter-poise, and ears for turnin; said screw shaft having their meshing points coincident with the pivotal axis of the scale, beam, with a valve and operating means therefor controlled from said scale, beam.

13. lVIechanism for controlling the flow of a fluid, comprising weighing means, a valve,

operating means for said valve controlled from said weighing means, and compensating means interposed between said operating means and the weighing means and adapted to oppose excessive movements of the 'alve.

l t. Mechanism for controlling the flow of a fluid. comprising a weighing scale responding to the weight. of a suply of said fluid, a valv v controlling the flow of said fluid, operating means for said valve controlled by said scale, and compensating means interposed between said operating means and scale and adapted upon an opening movement ot the valve to diminish the effective weight of the supply of fluid, and vice versa, whereby to oppose excessive, movements of the valve.

In witnesses whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK M. LEAVITT.

\Vitnesses Tnonas F. \VALLAcn, FRED \Vrn'rn. 

